Members of the 838th Air Expeditionary Advisory Group construct eight miles of perimeter fence as part of an expansion of Shindand Air Base, Afghanistan. The new expansion is slated to become the new living and work area for more than 3,000 coalition forces and government contractors. The relocation of these members will make room for a new a 1.3-mile NATO training runway, with construction scheduled to begin in early 2012. (Courtesy photo)

7/12/2011 - SHINDAND, Afghanistan (AFNS) -- By expanding to nearly three times its original size, Shindand Air Base recently became the second largest airfield throughout Afghanistan.

Colonel Larry Bowers, the 838th Air Expeditionary Advisory Group commander, opened the new expansion area upon completion of construction of approximately eight miles of perimeter fence line.

Having been in the works since fall of 2010, completion of the "Far East Expansion" makes the base second only to Bastion Field in Lashkar Gah in size.

The project is part of a $500 million military construction effort to support Regional Command West and turn Shindand AB into the premier flight-training base in Afghanistan, officials said.

The new expansion is slated to become the new living and working area for more than 3,000 coalition forces and government contractors, officials said. The relocation of these members will make room for a new a 1.3-mile NATO training runway, with construction scheduled to begin in early 2012.

"Our current mission here is to train and upgrade Afghan air force pilots in flying the Mi-17 helicopter," Bowers said. "The new runway project is being constructed in preparation for the addition of 18 new fixed- and rotary-wing aircraft and the establishment of Afghan introductory flight and undergraduate pilot training programs."

Leading the coordination for the project was Lt. Col. Lance McCuiston, an 838th AEAG civil engineer.

He said he faced many challenges during the project, including delays and design changes, and he is certain teamwork by multiple units and organizations contributed to overall project success.

"If it wasn't for the great work and dedication of our military members, civilians and contractors, this project would not have happened," McCuiston said. "This truly was a combined effort."

Despite a period when contractors left the work site due to threats by individuals claiming to be local land owners and detection of seven improvised explosive devices, the project remained on track, he said.

"The arrival of new security forces members greatly increased the ability to defend Shindand," McCuiston said. "It will be the mission of the security forces to patrol and defend this new battle space until completion of the project."

On hand to celebrate the opening of the expansion were members of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, who established the $13 million contract necessary for construction of the perimeter fence in October 2010.

"Opening this new expansion was a culmination of months of difficult planning, coordination and construction," said Capt. Greg Ward, of the Shindand office of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. "We should all be very proud."

Members of the 877th Expeditionary Prime BEEF Squadron were also on hand, with eight of their engineers having worked throughout the last four months during construction of the Far East Expansion. Prime Base Engineer Emergency Forces are civil engineer forces organized for direct combat support or emergency recovery from natural disasters.

Their oversight of more than 80 construction projects was crucial in the opening of the new area and ensured the NATO training-runway project remained on track, officials said.

"The Far East Expansion has been an extremely fast-paced project with some significant obstacles along the way," said Chief Master Sgt. Chris Hodge, the 877th EPBS superintendent. "Knowing that 10 years from now, the projects we designed and broke ground on will endure; this is our reward and something the 877th (EPBS) engineers can be proud of for a very long time."

Comments

4/28/2012 4:44:11 PM ETI agree that we need new leadership in DC but I also think that this was not a waste of money. The new leadership needs to stop subsidising some national park in Montana that charges money for entry anyway. If the park can't generate enough revenue to stay open well that's a sign that we don't need it anyway. The point is yes the government spends a lot of money on wasteful projects but using it on troops abroad is never a bad thing. Oh yeah and I agree that for any country that we help reconstruct they need to make reparation to pay us back.

Gary, Texas

1/13/2012 8:48:01 AM ETI can attest to how welcomed morale boosters are when deployed but our country has more important issues to deal with rather than sending more phones or internet connections to troops. Imagine how the troops dealt with their homesickness in WWII Korea Vietnam Desert Storm and the early stages of OIF and OEF...They didn't have all of the luxuries we have today but they did just fine. WAKE UP people it's time to start spending money wisely like on companies in the states which will take jobs from Taiwan China Thailand and put them in the hands of Americans.

Reality Check, WORLD

9/28/2011 6:05:17 PM ETThat's funny someone suggested 500M be distributed for morale programs AF wide. 500M doesn't really go that far. 500M is what it cost the Army to set up an internet service here to provide internet to maybe 1000 Army members at less than 2mbps.

Dave, Shindand

7/20/2011 10:46:42 AM ETPersonally I think a total waste of money. It's time to start to worry about our country which is going into a debt that it will never be able to climb out of. We need new leadership in Washington.

Bob, USA

7/16/2011 8:17:53 AM ETImagine what $500M would do if it was split up and spent on morale programs AF wide.

Broke at, Minot

7/13/2011 10:05:27 PM ETIt confuses me that the country is broke, going further into debt, and we're spending $500 million of American taxpayer money for an air base in another country. I really am at a total loss for words...

Doug, NC

7/13/2011 3:43:36 PM ETThe people who are protected by the servicemen who are serving at this location and who require more facilities to work and train, any complaints about defense spending can be taken up at this address: 214 McNair Road, Arlington, Va.

SrA D.H, DMAFB

7/13/2011 3:38:23 PM ETHey - unless NATO kicks in some cash, let's take over the poppy harvest, dabble in the opium trade, and make $500M to cover our expenses. Then use the annual profits to sustain our mission there. The drug trade will persist with or without the U.S. presence so why not use it instead of taxpayer dollars. We should have done the same with the oil fields in Iraq.

JAFSO, Saddle Rock CO

7/13/2011 8:00:52 AM ETHmmmmmm I wonder who is paying out this $500 mil

Dave C, OH

7/13/2011 6:41:08 AM ET$500 million eh? Well it's a good thing the U.S. is swimming in money and has no budget issues that would call for a need to cut back on mind-numbingly ridiculous nation-building projects.

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